After 22 years, the Josephian-Peterite Limited over encounter will return to the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) grounds on the 25th of March, Saturday for the 43rd edition as they battle it out for the Rev Fr Peter. A Pillai Memorial Shield.
History of the encounter
In the past 42 matches, St. Joseph’s College have won on 21 occasions while St. Peter’s College has recorded 19 wins including last year’s match, courtesy a cracking century by left-handed Hashan Wanasekara. The match in 2001 ended in a tie while the 2008 encounter produced no result due to rain.
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The recently concluded ’83rd battle of the saints’ between two primary catholic institutions in Sri Lanka….
Last year, St. Joseph’s College posted 258 for 6 in 50 overs but the Peterites captained by Vinu Mohotty blazed to the target in 39.1 overs with only 2 wickets down. St. Joseph’s last won this encounter in 2014 under Dylan Fernandopulle’s leadership. St. Peter’s College registered an easy 8-wicket the last time, the Joe-Pete one-day match was played at SSC.
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Recap from the 83rd Battle of the Saints
The 83rd Battle of the Saints ended in a draw with the Josephians gaining a slight first innings lead due to one of the greatest hundreds in the series by Jehan Daniel. The Peterites were below par in their batting performance in the first innings but they made up for it in the second innings with both their openers firing in the last hour. The Peterite new bowling pair, Manelkar De Silva and Santhush Gunathilake were very impressive in both innings.
>> WATCH LIVE: 43RD LIMITED OVERS ENCOUNTER
St. Joseph’s College
The Josephians will once again miss the services of their 3rd year player and Sri Lanka Cap Revan Kelly who has still not recovered from his back injury. The inexperienced top order was very vulnerable in the Big Match and due to that fact, Cameron Duruge who became the first Josephian to bag a pair of specs since 1989 will be left out of the playing XI for the all-important limited-overs encounter.
Photo Album: 42nd Battle of the Saints Limited Overs encounter
Young 15-year old fast-bowling all-rounder Lakshan Gamage who is reputed to be a big hitter of the cricket ball will most probably slot in to the team and bolster the bowling as well as middle order batting.
Nipun Sumanasinghe and the Big Match hero, Jehan Daniel who have been called up to national duty will be the cynosure of all eyes while skipper Harin Cooray leads the bowling attack.
Probable XI – Thashan Perera, Nipun Sumanasinghe, Dineth Madurawala, Jehan Fernandopulle, Jehan Daniel, Shewon Fonseka, Pahan Perera, Lakshan Gamage, Harin Cooray (Captain), Havin Perera, Ruchira Ekanayake.
St. Peter’s College
The Peterites will definitely come into the match with a slight advantage due to their prowess in all departments but they will be a tad worried about their spinners who failed to pick up a single wicket in the first innings during the Big Match. Nevertheless, left-arm spinner Miflal Ameen and off-spinner Chathura Obeysekara will be itching to tie down the Josephian middle order through the middle overs.
Read: Wanasekara century annihilates Joes
Skipper Lakshina Rodrigo will be looking to repeat his last year’s performances of 61* with the bat while the likes of Manelkar De Silva, Santhush Gunathilake, Shalith Fernando and Anishka Perera are expected to make the bulk of the runs for the Peterites. In place of Vinul Gunawardena, the lads from Bambalapitiya might look to bring in free-flowing Sulakshana Fernando to the number 3 slot.
Probable XI – Santhush Gunathilake, Anishka Perera, Sulakshana Fernando, Lakshina Rodrigo (Captain), Manelkar De Silva, Shalith Fernando, Ranmith Jayasena, Shivaan Perera, Chathura Obeysekara, Sachin Silva, Miflal Ameen.
Final Say
Has the interest reduced due to the three-week break between the Big Match and the one-day encounter? The simple answer is no. The Joe-Pete one-day encounter has always been a much looked forward to event for all Josephians and Peterites. Roy-Tho and Ananda-Nalanda limited-over encounters at the same venue last week went down to the wire and with two evenly balanced teams on paper, expect yet another thriller with over 10,000 spectators in attendance.
 grounds on the 25th of March, Saturday for the 43rd edition as they battle it out for the Rev Fr Peter. A Pillai Memorial Shield.){kind=link}